Easily made rockets have been used in experiments and for fun for many years. A few examples of these rockets include, Alka-Seltzer and H2O, Vinegar and Baking Soda, & Dry Ice and H2O. All of these examples use a form of carbonation to propel the rocket. The specific body of rocket determines how fast and how far it will go. For our testing needs and safety we used film canisters as our rocket bodies. The force to shoot the rocket upward was created from pressure which was made from carbonation. Carbonation is a phenomenon in which carbon dioxide gas is suspended in water, creating small bubbles. It can occur both naturally and artificially, as a result of the introduction of carbon dioxide to a liquid. This phenomenon is what makes soft drinks bubbly and fizzy, although the fizzy sensation is actually not caused by the bubbles themselves, but rather by the chemicals which make the bubbles.
Procedure
Baking Soda and Vinegar
We measured out 1.59g of baking soda on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of vinegar in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the baking soda into the film canister. Then we poured the vinegar into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the vinegar was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of baking soda
Dry Ice and Water
We measured out 1.59g of dry ice on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of water in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the dry ice into the film canister. Then we poured the water into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the water was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of dry ice
Alka-Seltzer and Water We measured out 1.59g of Alka-Seltzer on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of water in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the Alka-Seltzer into the film canister. Then we poured the water into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the water was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of Alka-Seltzer
Results
Time to Launch Time and In Flight Time (all have 10ml of liquid)
1.59g
3.18g
6.36g
9.54g
12.72g
Dry Ice & H2O
Time to Launch
5.65 sec
2.02 sec
.35 sec
2.23 sec
1.26 sec
In Flight Time
.91 sec
2.33 sec
4.93 sec
2.38 sec
4.50 sec
Vinegar & Baking Soda
Time to Launch
2.25 sec
1.06 sec
2.93 sec
5.59 sec
Never took off
In Flight Time
3.40 sec
2.23 sec
3.03 sec
1.72 sec
Never took off
Alka Setlzer & H2O
Time to Launch
19.49 sec
16.41 sec
8.07 sec
7.12 sec
8.80 sec
In Flight Time
3.45 sec
2.03 sec
2.96 sec
2.30 sec
2.41 sec
The trial with 12.72g of baking soda and 10ml of vinegar did not take off. We conclude that it did not take off because it had too much baking soda and not enough vinegar
Linear Regression for Dry Ice & Water
This linear relationship between dry ice and water shows that if you continued to add more grams of dry ice you will probably produce a greater flight time
Linear Regression for Vinegar & Baking Soda
This linear relationship between vinegar and baking soda shows that adding more and more baking soda will probably produce a shorter flight time.
Linear Regression for Alka-Seltzer & Water
This linear relationship between Alka-Seltzer and water shows that adding more alka seltzer will probably produce a shorter flight time.
Conclusions
We conclude from our results that the best home made is made with 6.36g of dry ice and 10ml of water. This combination of dry ice and water has the fasted launch time, .35 sec, and the longest flight time, 4.93 sec.Our sources of error included having some windy days. This could possible make the flight time longer or shorter depending on the direction of the wind. And, during some of our trials some of the solid in the experiment was lost during transfer. This would make the reactions take longer (if there was too much solid in the trial) or shorter (if more solid reacted a faster reaction would take place). We think another experiment that could be done is instead of a film canister, you could use different sizes of containers. This could vary the flight time and the launch time and could even produce a better overall rocket. A questions that came up during our experiment was, what causes the chemical reactions between each one of these substances?
Table of Contents
Home Made Rockets
Coleman, Daniel
Introduction
Easily made rockets have been used in experiments and for fun for many years. A few examples of these rockets include, Alka-Seltzer and H2O, Vinegar and Baking Soda, & Dry Ice and H2O. All of these examples use a form of carbonation to propel the rocket. The specific body of rocket determines how fast and how far it will go. For our testing needs and safety we used film canisters as our rocket bodies. The force to shoot the rocket upward was created from pressure which was made from carbonation.
Carbonation is a phenomenon in which carbon dioxide gas is suspended in water, creating small bubbles. It can occur both naturally and artificially, as a result of the introduction of carbon dioxide to a liquid. This phenomenon is what makes soft drinks bubbly and fizzy, although the fizzy sensation is actually not caused by the bubbles themselves, but rather by the chemicals which make the bubbles.
Procedure
Baking Soda and Vinegar
We measured out 1.59g of baking soda on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of vinegar in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the baking soda into the film canister. Then we poured the vinegar into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the vinegar was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of baking soda
Dry Ice and Water
We measured out 1.59g of dry ice on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of water in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the dry ice into the film canister. Then we poured the water into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the water was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of dry ice
Alka-Seltzer and Water
We measured out 1.59g of Alka-Seltzer on a well plate. Then we measured out 10ml of water in a 10ml graduated cylinder. Then we poured the Alka-Seltzer into the film canister. Then we poured the water into the film canister and immediately put the top on and turned it upside down. Then we clocked the duration of how long it took from when the water was put in to the canister to when the rocket took off (launch time.) Then we clocked the duration of when the rocket left the ground to when it landed (flight time.) Then we repeated steps 1-6 but when 3.18, 6.36, 9.54, and 12.72g of Alka-Seltzer
Results
Time to Launch Time and In Flight Time (all have 10ml of liquid)
Linear Regression for Dry Ice & Water
This linear relationship between dry ice and water shows that if you continued to add more grams of dry ice you will probably produce a greater flight time
Linear Regression for Vinegar & Baking Soda
This linear relationship between vinegar and baking soda shows that adding more and more baking soda will probably produce a shorter flight time.
Linear Regression for Alka-Seltzer & Water
This linear relationship between Alka-Seltzer and water shows that adding more alka seltzer will probably produce a shorter flight time.
Conclusions
We conclude from our results that the best home made is made with 6.36g of dry ice and 10ml of water. This combination of dry ice and water has the fasted launch time, .35 sec, and the longest flight time, 4.93 sec.Our sources of error included having some windy days. This could possible make the flight time longer or shorter depending on the direction of the wind. And, during some of our trials some of the solid in the experiment was lost during transfer. This would make the reactions take longer (if there was too much solid in the trial) or shorter (if more solid reacted a faster reaction would take place). We think another experiment that could be done is instead of a film canister, you could use different sizes of containers. This could vary the flight time and the launch time and could even produce a better overall rocket. A questions that came up during our experiment was, what causes the chemical reactions between each one of these substances?
References
Co., TOMCO. "Carbon Dioxide." Co2info. 13 Aug. 2006. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.co2info.com/>.Elmhurst College. "Chemical Properties." Elmhurst College: Elmhurst, Illinois. 5 Mar. 2003. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/105Achemprop.html>.Merrit, Dr. "Dry Ice Projects | Dry Ice Science and Chemistry | School Projects." Dry Ice Information - All about Dry Ice. 26 July 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.dryiceinfo.com/science.htm>.Science House. "Balloon Blowup." The Science House at North Carolina State University. 3 Apr. 2006. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.science-house.org/CO2/activities/co2/balloon.html>.